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ABSTRACT: : To estimate whether follow-up with serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) results in fewer unplanned visits and interventions than follow-up with ultrasonography.
: Women were randomized to either in-clinic serum hCG or ultrasound follow-up after medical abortion. The primary outcome, unplanned interventions and visits, was measured as a composite binary outcome including: additional clinic or emergency room visits, repeat dosing of misoprostol, and surgical evacuation of the uterus. Surveys were administered at initial follow-up and again 1 month after abortion to inquire about unscheduled visits, interventions, and patient satisfaction. Medical records were reviewed for evidence of additional interventions and visits.
: A total of 376 patients was randomized. Most participants were white (56%), single (83%), nulliparous (63%), and had completed high school (96%). Average participant age was 26±6 years and average gestational age was 46±6 days. Within 2 weeks of abortion, there was no significant difference in the rate of unplanned interventions and visits between arms, 8.2% (13/159) in the serum hCG arm compared with 6.6% (10/151) in the ultrasound arm (relative risk 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-2.73, P=.60). By 4 weeks postabortion, 4.4% (6/135) in the ultrasound arm and 1.4% (2/142) in the hCG arm had undergone surgical evacuation (relative risk 0.32, 95% CI 0.07-1.54, P=.16). The majority in both the serum hCG (88%) and ultrasound (95%) arms was satisfied with their assigned follow-up method.
: Medical abortion follow-up with serum hCG does not reduce the rate of unplanned interventions and visits compared with ultrasonography. Overall, the number of unplanned interventions is low and both methods of follow-up are acceptable to women.
: ClincialTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00907725.
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Obstetrics and Gynecology 03/2013; 121(3):607-13. · 4.73 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The early identification of clinically severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is critical for the triage and treatment of patients. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) and clinical scoring systems for predicting the severity of AP on admission.
Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of all consecutive patients with a primary diagnosis of AP during a two-and-half-year period was prospectively collected for this study. A retrospective analysis of the abdominal CT data was performed. Seven CT scoring systems (CT severity index (CTSI), modified CT severity index (MCTSI), pancreatic size index (PSI), extrapancreatic score (EP), ''extrapancreatic inflammation on CT'' score (EPIC), ''mesenteric oedema and peritoneal fluid'' score (MOP), and Balthazar grade) as well as two clinical scoring systems: Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE)-II and Bedside Index for Severity in AP (BISAP) were comparatively evaluated with regard to their ability to predict the severity of AP on admission (first 24 h of hospitalization). Clinically severe AP was defined as one or more of the following: mortality, persistent organ failure and/or the presence of local pancreatic complications that require intervention. All CT scans were reviewed in consensus by two radiologists, each blinded to patient outcome. The accuracy of each imaging and clinical scoring system for predicting the severity of AP was assessed using receiver operating curve analysis.
Of 346 consecutive episodes of AP, there were 159 (46%) episodes in 150 patients (84 men, 66 women; mean age, 54 years; age range, 21-91 years) who were evaluated with a contrast-enhanced CT scan (n = 131 episodes) or an unenhanced CT scan (n = 28 episodes) on the first day of admission. Clinically severe AP was diagnosed in 29/159 (18%) episodes; 9 (6%) patients died. Overall, the Balthazar grading system (any CT technique) and CTSI (contrast-enhanced CT only) demonstrated the highest accuracy among the CT scoring systems for predicting severity, but this was not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences between the predictive accuracies of CT and clinical scoring systems.
The predictive accuracy of CT scoring systems for severity of AP is similar to clinical scoring systems. Hence, a CT on admission solely for severity assessment in AP is not recommended.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology 12/2011; 107(4):612-9. · 7.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In patients with obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, capsule endoscopy is widely used to determine the source of bleeding. However, there is currently no consensus on how to further evaluate patients with obscure GI bleeding with a non-diagnostic capsule endoscopy examination. This study aims to determine the diagnostic yield of dual-phase computed tomographic enterography (CTE) in patients with obscure GI bleeding and a non-diagnostic capsule endoscopy.
Patients with obscure GI bleeding who were referred for capsule endoscopy were prospectively enrolled. Obscure GI bleeding was defined as overt if there was obvious GI bleeding; otherwise it was defined as occult. Patients with a non-diagnostic capsule endoscopy and no contraindications underwent a CTE.
Capsule endoscopy was performed in 52 patients; 26 patients (50%) had occult GI bleeding and 26 patients (50%) had overt GI bleeding. CTE was then performed in 25 of the 48 patients without a definitive source of bleeding seen on capsule endoscopy. The diagnostic yield of CTE was 0% (0/11) in patients with occult bleeding versus 50% (7/14) in patients with overt bleeding (P < 0.01). Using clinical follow up as the gold standard, for the 25 patients with a non-diagnostic capsule, CTE had a sensitivity of 33% (95% confidence interval 0.15, 0.56) and a specificity of 75% (95% confidence interval 0.22, 0.99).
In patients with a non-diagnostic capsule endoscopy examination, CTE is useful for detecting a source of GI bleeding in patients with overt, but not occult, obscure GI bleeding.
Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 11/2011; 27(4):751-9. · 2.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To assess possible risk factors, management, and outcomes for women with malpositioned intrauterine contraception devices (IUDs).
This retrospective case-control study compared 182 women with malpositioned IUDs shown by ultrasonography at a single institution from 2003 to 2008 with 182 women with properly positioned IUDs. We evaluated whether insertion at 6-9 weeks postpartum, postabortion placement, breastfeeding, type of IUD, pregnancy history, leiomyomas, suspected adenomyosis, and indication for placement were associated with malpositioning. Our study had 70-99% power to detect whether postpartum placement was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 2-3.
Malpositioned devices were noted on 10.4% of ultrasonography scans among women with IUDs having pelvic ultrasonography for any indication. Most malpositioned devices (73.1%) were noted to be in the lower uterine segment or cervix. Insertion of IUDs at 6-9 weeks postpartum was not associated with malpositioning (OR 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81-2.63). Among other possible risk factors examined, suspected adenomyosis was associated with IUD malpositioning (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.08-8.52), whereas prior vaginal delivery (OR 0.53 95% CI 0.32-0.87) and private insurance (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.24-0.59) were protective. Approximately two-thirds (66.5%) of malpositioned devices were removed by health care providers. There were more pregnancies within 2 years among those in the case group than those in the control group (19.2% compared with 10.5%, P=.046). All pregnancies were the result of IUD expulsion or removal, and none occurred with a malpositioned IUD known to be in situ.
Malpositioning of IUDs does not appear to be associated with insertion at 6-9 weeks postpartum. Women with malpositioned IUDs are more likely to become pregnant because of IUD removal without initiation of another highly effective contraceptive method.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 11/2011; 118(5):1014-20. · 4.73 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There is limited information on the incidence of and factors associated with severe disease among patients with interstitial pancreatitis (IP). We evaluated a large cohort of patients with IP and compared data with those from patients with extrapancreatic necrosis (EXPN).
We evaluated 149 consecutive patients with IP admitted over a 2.5-year period. Transferred patients were excluded. We collected data on age, Charlson comorbidity score (CCI), measures of severity on admission or within 24 hours (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, bedside index for severity of acute pancreatitis scores), persistent (>48 h) systemic inflammatory response syndrome, persistent organ failure, need for intensive care unit, length of hospital stay (in days), and mortality. We also analyzed levels of severity among those with IP and EXPN. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9.1 (Cary, NC).
Among the patients with IP, the median CCI score was 1, the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 7, and the median bedside index for severity of acute pancreatitis score was 1. In addition, the median length of hospital stay was only 4 days; only 1% had persistent organ failure and only 1% to 2% required intervention. The mortality rate of IP was 3%; it was associated significantly with comorbidity (the median CCI scores of nonsurvivors and survivors was 4 and 1, respectively, P = .003). Patients with EXPN had greater levels of disease severity, compared with patients with IP.
IP is severe in only 1% to 3% of patients; mortality of IP is associated strongly with comorbidity. EXPN is more frequently severe than IP; EXPN must be distinguished from IP in clinical studies.
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology: the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association 09/2011; 9(12):1098-103. · 5.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to compare the modified CT severity index (MCTSI) with the CT severity index (CTSI) regarding assessment of severity parameters in acute pancreatitis (AP). Both CT indexes were also compared with the Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) index.
Of 397 consecutive cases of AP, 196 (49%) patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT (n = 175) or MRI (n = 21) within 1 week of onset of symptoms. Two radiologists independently scored both CT indexes. Severity parameters included mortality, organ failure, pancreatic infection, admission to and length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, need for intervention, and clinical severity of pancreatitis. Discrimination analysis and kappa statistics were performed.
Although for both CT indexes a significant relationship was observed between the score and each severity parameter (p < 0.0001), no significant differences were seen between the CT indexes. Compared with the APACHE II index, both CT indexes more accurately correlated with the need for intervention (CTSI, p = 0.006; MCTSI, p = 0.01) and pancreatic infection (CTSI, p = 0.04; MCTSI, p = 0.06) and more accurately diagnosed clinically severe disease (area under the curve, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.82-0.92). Interobserver agreement was excellent for both indexes: for CTSI, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.90) and for MCTSI, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.85-0.95).
No significant differences were noted between the CTSI and the MCTSI in evaluating the severity of AP. Compared with APACHE II, both CT indexes more accurately diagnose clinically severe disease and better correlate with the need for intervention and pancreatic infection.
American Journal of Roentgenology 08/2011; 197(2):386-92. · 2.78 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate and compare recovery times and quality of life (QOL) in patients undergoing a total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH).
Patients underwent either a TLH or LSH. After surgery, patients maintained a daily log documenting pain, nausea, use of pain medications, and return to daily activities. They also completed a QOL questionnaire (SF-36) before and after surgery. DESIGN CLASSIFICATION: Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force Classification II-1).
University teaching hospital.
A total of 122 women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy.
A total of 122 women underwent TLH (n = 71) or LSH (n = 51) for benign indications from February 2008 to January 2010. There was a significantly higher postoperative improvement of QOL scores in the LSH group in 6 of 10 questionnaire categories and summary scores, including physical functioning (p =.03), role physical (p =.002), and bodily pain (p =.03). There were no significant differences in use of pain medications, level of pain, level of nausea, or return to normal activities.
LSH appears to provide greater improvement in short-term postoperative QOL compared with TLH. No significant differences were found in postoperative pain or return to daily activities.
Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology 07/2011; 18(5):617-21. · 1.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To estimate maternal morbidity associated with uterine evacuation for second-trimester fetal demise compared with that associated with induced second-trimester abortion.
This retrospective cohort study compared the maternal outcomes of two cohorts: 1) women diagnosed with fetal demise between 14 and 24 weeks who subsequently underwent dilation and evacuation or induction of labor; and 2) women undergoing induced abortion between 14 and 24 weeks by either dilation and evacuation or induction of labor. The primary outcome was major maternal morbidity. Assuming morbidity rates of 11% for fetal demise and 1% for induced second-trimester abortion, 94 patients were needed per group to detect significant difference in maternal morbidity (80% power, 5% alpha).
We identified 121 women with fetal demise and 121 women who underwent induced abortion for inclusion. There were no maternal deaths. In crude and adjusted analyses, treatment for fetal demise was not associated with increased maternal morbidity (25 of 121) compared with induced abortion (27 of 121) (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-2.32). There were more blood transfusions in the fetal demise group (N=7) compared with the induced-abortion group (N=1) (P=.07). Induction of labor was more morbid than dilation and evacuation after adjusting for confounders (OR 5.36; 95% CI 2.46-11.69), primarily as a result of increased odds of infection requiring intravenous antibiotics. Gestational age of 20 weeks or greater was significantly associated with maternal morbidity (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.39-4.84).
In the second trimester, uterine evacuation for fetal demise was not significantly associated with maternal morbidity compared with induced abortion. Induction of labor was more morbid than dilation and evacuation as a result of an increased risk of presumed infection.
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Obstetrics and Gynecology 02/2011; 117(2 Pt 1):307-16. · 4.73 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Studies evaluating hemoconcentration as a marker of necrosis in acute pancreatitis have reached different conclusions. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of transfer status on the accuracy of hemoconcentration for the prediction of pancreatic necrosis.
We prospectively enrolled 339 patients in an observational cohort study from June 2005 to December 2007. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of transfer status on the relationship between hemoconcentration and necrosis. Accuracy for prediction of necrosis was measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.
Hemoconcentration was associated with increased risk of necrosis only among transferred patients (odds ratio [95% confidence limits], 3.6 [1.2, 10.8]). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for admission hematocrit for prediction of necrosis was 0.78 among the transferred patients versus 0.55 among those with primary admissions (chi2, P < 0.0001). Transferred patients had greater initial severity (median bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis, 2 vs 1; P < 0.0001), were more likely to have hemoconcentration (44% vs 18%; chi2, P < 0.0001), and experienced increased necrosis (37.5% vs 3.6%; chi2, P < 0.0001) compared with primary admissions. After adjusting for sex, disease severity, fluid resuscitation, and transfer status, hemoconcentration was not associated with necrosis (Wald chi2, P = 0.14).
Transfer status is a confounder in the relationship between hemoconcentration and pancreatic necrosis.
Pancreas 02/2010; 39(5):572-6. · 2.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There have been few clinical studies of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in patients with acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of SIRS in assessing severity of acute pancreatitis.
We prospectively enrolled 252 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis who were admitted directly to our institution between 2005-2007. The incidence and duration of SIRS (transient <or=48 hours vs persistent >48 hours) during the first 7 days of hospitalization, and the number of SIRS criteria (0-4) on the first day of hospitalization (day 1) were evaluated with individual markers of severity, including persistent organ failure, pancreatic necrosis, need for intensive care unit, and mortality.
SIRS occurred in 155/252 patients (62%) on day 1. SIRS on day 1 predicted severe disease with high sensitivity (85%-100%). The absence of SIRS on day 1 was associated with a high negative predictive value (98%-100%). Patients with a higher number of systemic inflammatory response (SIR) criteria on day 1 and persistent SIRS had an increased risk for severe disease (P < .01).
The majority of patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis have SIRS on day 1. The severity of acute pancreatitis is greater among patients with SIRS on day 1 and, in particular, among those with 3 or 4 SIRS criteria, compared with those without SIRS on day 1.
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology: the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association 08/2009; 7(11):1247-51. · 5.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Our aim was to prospectively evaluate the ability of the bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) score to predict mortality as well as intermediate markers of severity in a tertiary center.
The BISAP score was evaluated among 397 consecutive cases of acute pancreatitis admitted to our institution between June 2005 and December 2007. BISAP scores were calculated on all cases using data within 24 h of presentation. The ability of the BISAP score to predict mortality was evaluated using trend and discrimination analysis. The optimal cutoff score for mortality from the receiver operating curve was used to evaluate the development of organ failure, persistent organ failure, and pancreatic necrosis.
Among 397 cases, there were 14 (3.5%) deaths. There was a statistically significant trend for increasing mortality (P < 0.0001) with increasing BISAP score. The area under the receiver operating curve for mortality by BISAP score in the prospective cohort was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.70, 0.95), which was similar to that of the previously published validation cohort. A BISAP score >or=3 was associated with an increased risk of developing organ failure (odds ratio=7.4, 95% confidence interval: 2.8, 19.5), persistent organ failure (odds ratio=12.7, 95% confidence interval: 4.7, 33.9), and pancreatic necrosis (odds ratio=3.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.8, 8.5).
The BISAP score represents a simple way to identify patients at risk of increased mortality and the development of intermediate markers of severity within 24 h of presentation. This risk stratification capability can be utilized to improve clinical care and facilitate enrollment in clinical trials.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology 04/2009; 104(4):966-71. · 7.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Esophageal motility has been well studied in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux, but not in nonacid reflux. Consecutive patients who had both 24-h multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) and esophageal motility tests for suspected GERD were studied. Patients were grouped into nonacid refluxers, acid refluxers, and nonrefluxers based on positive symptom correlation and objective findings of acid reflux. Of 96 patients enrolled, 21 patients (22%) were nonacid refluxers, 44 patients (46%) were acid refluxers, and 31 patients (32%) had no objective evidence of reflux. Normal motility was recorded in 86% of nonacid refluxers, 71% of acid refluxers, and 60% of nonrefluxers. Ineffective esophageal motility was seen in 24% of acid refluxers, and 5% of nonacid refluxers (P = 0.11). Symptomatic nonacid reflux events comprised 22% of patients studied for GERD symptoms by MII-pH. Esophageal motility in nonacid reflux is normal 86% of the time.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences 01/2009; 54(9):1926-32. · 2.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the clinical success of discharging patients with persistent drainage from percutaneous pancreatic catheters and to identify factors related to complications and re-admission.
The authors identified 15 patients with necrotizing pancreatitis who were discharged with drains after computed tomographic (CT)-guided catheter drainage at their institution from 2000 to 2006. At discharge, all patients were afebrile and were tolerating oral diets but had persistent catheter output. Data reviewed included abdominal CT scans (at admission, before drain placement, and before discharge), microbiologic results, catheter caliber, number of catheters, outpatient follow-up, and re-admission records.
Seven of the 15 patients (47%) remained clinically well and underwent successful outpatient catheter removal (median duration of catheter drainage, 94 days). Eight of the 15 patients (53%) were re-admitted because of abdominal pain and/or fever (median time to re-admission, 15 days). Six of the eight re-admitted patients (75%) underwent surgical débridement and two (25%) had catheters manipulated followed by eventual successful outpatient catheter removal. The mean percentage reduction in size of the necrotic collection before discharge was higher in the seven patients who remained clinically well compared to the eight who required re-admission (87.6% vs 49.6%, P = .037).
Patients with necrotizing pancreatitis who have persistent drainage from percutaneous catheters at the time of hospital discharge are more likely to be re-admitted if there is CT evidence of inadequate resolution of the necrotic collection.
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology 08/2008; 19(7):1002-6. · 2.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Liver biopsy is the gold standard for establishing cirrhosis, but may provide inadequate tissue for interpretation in some patients.
The aim of this study was to determine whether the hepatic venous pressure gradient predicts the presence of cirrhosis.
Patients with liver disease who had undergone hepatic venous pressure gradient measurements were identified. Clinical, laboratory, and hepatic venous pressure gradient data were collected and biopsies were staged for fibrosis. Univariable logistic regression was used to identify potential predictors of cirrhosis. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to determine adjusted odds ratios.
Thirty-two patients were included. The hepatic venous pressure gradient was an independent predictor of cirrhosis. On multivariable analysis, the hepatic venous pressure gradient predicted cirrhosis, with an odds ratio of 1.46 (95% confidence interval 1.05-2.02, P=0.023). Using a cutoff of >or=6.5 mm Hg, the hepatic venous pressure gradient was 86% sensitive and 80% specific for diagnosing cirrhosis.
The hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement predicts the presence of cirrhosis in patients with liver disease. Therefore, when the diagnosis of cirrhosis is in question, an elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient can support the diagnosis.
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 03/2008; 42(2):199-203. · 3.16 Impact Factor
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Amir A Qamar,
Norman D Grace,
Roberto J Groszmann,
Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao,
Jaime Bosch,
Andrew K Burroughs, Rie Maurer,
Ramon Planas,
Angels Escorsell,
Juan Carlos Garcia-Pagan,
David Patch,
Daniel S Matloff,
Robert Makuch
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ABSTRACT: Current guidelines recommend esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in patients with cirrhosis to screen for gastroesophageal varices (GEV). Thrombocytopenia has been proposed as a noninvasive test to predict the presence of GEV. There is no agreement regarding a specific platelet count (PLT) that can reliably predict GEV. The present longitudinal study aims to (1) further investigate the relationship between varices and PLT at the time of endoscopy, (2) investigate whether changes in PLT from the baseline over time can predict the development of GEV, and (3) investigate whether changes in PLT correlate with the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A secondary analysis was conducted for 213 subjects with compensated cirrhosis with portal hypertension but without GEV enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of a nonselective beta-blocker used to prevent GEV. PLTs were obtained every 3 months, and HVPG measurements and EGD were done annually. The PLTs were compared between subjects who did and did not develop GEV. In a median follow-up of 54.9 months, 84 patients developed GEV. PLT was greater than 150,000 in 15% of patients at the development of GEV. A receiver operating curve did not show any PLT with high sensitivity or specificity for the presence of GEV. Subjects with clinically insignificant portal hypertension (HVPG < 10 mm Hg) whose PLT remained greater than 100,000 had a 2-fold reduction in the occurrence of GEV (P = 0.0374). A significant correlation was found between HVPG and PLT at the baseline, year 1, and year 5 (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Cross-sectional or longitudinal evaluations of PLTs are inadequate noninvasive markers for GEV. Patients with mild portal hypertension whose PLT remains greater than 100,000 have significantly less risk of GEV. Although HVPG correlates somewhat with PLT, changes in PLT cannot be used as a surrogate for HVPG changes.
Hepatology 01/2008; 47(1):153-9. · 11.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An anthropomorphic airway tree phantom was imaged with both hyperpolarized (HP) 3He MRI using a dynamic projection scan and computed tomography (CT). Airway diameter measurements from the HP 3He MR images obtained using a newly developed model-based algorithm were compared against their corresponding CT values quantified with a well-established method. Of the 45 airway segments that could be evaluated with CT, only 14 airway segments (31%) could be evaluated using HP 3He MRI. No airway segments smaller than approximately 4 mm in diameter and distal to the fourth generation were adequate for analysis in MRI. For the 14 airway segments measured, only two airway segments yielded a non-equivalent comparison between the two imaging modalities, while eight more had inconclusive comparison results, leaving only four airway segments (29%) that satisfied the designed equivalence criteria. Some of the potential problems in airway diameter quantification described in the formulation of the model-based algorithm were observed in this study. These results suggest that dynamic projection HP 3He MRI may have limited utility for measuring airway segment diameters, particularly those of the central airways.
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 10/2007; 58(3):636-42. · 2.96 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Patients recovering from mild acute pancreatitis typically receive a clear liquid diet (CLD) when ready to initiate oral nutrition. Patient discharge then depends on their successful advancement to solid food. We hypothesized that initiating oral nutrition with a low-fat solid diet (LFSD) after mild pancreatitis would be well tolerated and would result in a shorter length of hospitalization (LOH).
Patients with mild pancreatitis were randomized to a CLD or LFSD when they were ready to resume oral nutrition. Decisions about diet advancement and hospital discharge were at the discretion of the medical team, without input from study team members. Patients were monitored daily for recurrence of pain, need to stop feeding, post-refeeding LOH (primary end point), and for 28 days post-refeeding to capture re-admission rates.
We randomized 121 patients: 66 to CLD and 55 to LFSD. The number of patients requiring cessation of feeding because of pain or nausea was similar in both groups (6% for CLD, 11% for LFSD; P = .51). The median LOH after refeeding was identical in both groups (1-day interquartile range, 1-2; P = .77). Patients in the LFSD arm consumed significantly more calories and grams of fat than those in the CLD arm during their first meal and on study day 1. There was no difference in the 28-day re-admission rates between the 2 arms.
Initiating oral nutrition after mild acute pancreatitis with an LFSD appeared safe and provided more calories than a CLD, but did not result in a shorter LOH.
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology: the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association 08/2007; 5(8):946-51; quiz 886. · 5.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Endoluminal gastroplication has been shown to reduce symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and to induce focal hypertrophy of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) muscularis propria. Despite suture loss, some patients have persistent symptomatic resolution.
This study was designed to examine the durability of smooth muscle hypertrophy after suture removal.
Seven pigs underwent upper endoscopy with endoscopic ultrasonography (EGD/EUS) at baseline to evaluate GEJ muscularis propria layer. Endoluminal gastroplication was performed at week 1 with placement of 2 sutures at the GEJ. Repeat EGD/EUS was performed at week 3 and week 5. Three of the 7 pigs were killed for histologic analysis. The remaining 4 pigs had sutures removed and survived for 9, 11, and 13 weeks; serial weekly EGD/EUS was performed until the animal was killed.
The GEJ muscularis propria thickness by EUS was 1.1+/-0.1 mm at baseline, 4.7+/-1.9 mm at week 3, and 4.4+/-1.1 mm at week 5. The muscularis propria thickness by histologic examination in the 3 animals with sutures intact were 6.2+/-0.3 mm near the suture site and 4.7+/-0.5 mm at the opposing wall to the suture site. For the 4 animals with sutures removed, the measurements were 6.9+/-0.2 mm (suture site) and 4.7+/-0.5 mm (opposing wall), respectively.
The GEJ smooth muscle cell hypertrophy induced by endoluminal gastroplication persisted after removal of mucosal sutures. These changes may be responsible for persistent symptomatic response despite suture loss in patients.
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 07/2007; 65(7):1023-7. · 4.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Background: Small uncontrolled trials have suggested that 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) medications increase 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGn) levels in adults with Crohn's disease (CD) on azathioprine (AZA) or 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), presumably through the inhibition of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT). We tested the theory that coadministration of 5-ASA agents with AZA/6-MP results in higher 6-TGn levels in a large cohort of children and adults with CD or ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: A retrospective cohort study identified all children and adults treated for IBD with AZA/6-MP at 2 tertiary medical centers. Patients were included if their TPMT genotype was known and 6-TGn and 6-methymercaptopurine (6-MMP) levels had been obtained after 3 months of clinical remission at a stable dose of AZA/6-MP. 6-TGn and 6-MMP levels were compared between patients taking and those not taking 5-ASA medications through the use of linear regression models to identify and adjust for potentially confounding variables. Results: Of the 126 patients included, 88 were taking 5-ASA medications. Patients on 5-ASA agents had higher mean 6-TGn levels after adjustment for confounding variables (Δ6-TGn, 47.6 ± 21.8 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells; P = 0.03). CD and TPMT heterozygosity was independently associated with higher 6-TGn levels (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). 5-ASA exposure was not associated with a change in 6-MMP levels. Conclusions: We found that 5-ASA therapy is associated with higher 6-TGn levels in children and adults with IBD on 6-MP/AZA. TPMT inhibition may not explain this effect because 5-ASA exposure did not affect 6-MMP levels. The observed association of CD with higher 6-TGn levels is novel and needs to be verified in prospective studies.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 12/2006; 12(4):251 - 257. · 4.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC-TP) is a cytosolic phospholipid binding protein and a member of the steroidogenic acute regulatory-related transfer domain superfamily. Its tissue distribution includes liver and macrophages. PC-TP regulates hepatic lipid metabolism, and its absence in cholesterol-loaded macrophages is associated with reduced ATP binding cassette transporter A1-mediated lipid efflux and increased susceptibility to apoptosis induced by unesterified cholesterol. To explore a role for PC-TP in atherosclerosis, we prepared PC-TP-deficient/apolipoprotein E-deficient (Pctp(-/-)/Apoe(-/-)) mice and littermate Apoe(-/-) controls. At 16 weeks, atherosclerosis was increased in chow-fed male, but not female, Pctp(-/-)/Apoe(-/-) mice. This effect was associated with increases in plasma lipid concentrations. By contrast, no differences in atherosclerosis were observed between male or female Pctp(-/-)/Apoe(-/-) mice and Apoe(-/-) controls fed a Western-type diet for 16 weeks. At 24 weeks, atherosclerosis in chow-fed male Pctp(-/-)/Apoe(-/-) mice tended to be reduced in proportion to plasma cholesterol. The attenuation of atherosclerosis in female Pctp(-/-)/Apoe(-/-) mice fed chow or the Western-type diet for 24 weeks was not attributable to changes in plasma cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations. These findings suggest that PC-TP modulates the development of atherosclerosis, in part by regulating plasma lipid concentrations.
The Journal of Lipid Research 12/2006; 47(11):2400-7. · 5.56 Impact Factor
